Whether it be the world’s fastest car or the world’s strongest beer, the old maxim that “competition improves the breed†seems to hold true. Volkswagen spent an extraordinary amount of money, time and effort creating the 408 km/h (254 mph), 1001bhp Bugatti Veyron in 2005 – it knocked off the 387.37 km/h (240.7 mph) record set by Koenigsegg’s CCR to become the fastest, most powerful and most expensive car ever built. Then SSC came along with the Ultimate Aero TT to set a new world mark of 412.28 km/h (256.18 mph). Now Bugatti’s new Veyron Super Sport has pushed the record to 431 km/h.
SSC held the title for three years, but although it is known to have a car under construction which is targeting 280 mph, it is a far more multi-dimensional company than one which just builds fast cars. One of its other interesting projects is worth a look … Details
LONDON – The opaque visor of one of Britain’s most famous helmets has been lifted.
The identity of The Stig, the always-anonymous test driver on the popular television show “Top Gear,” has long been a closely guarded secret. On Wednesday, lawyers said the BBC had been refused an injunction blocking publication of a book revealing the identity of the character.
Shortly after, publishers HarperCollins said in a statement that a 33-year-old racing driver named … Details
It’s more like the drone of bees than the roar of racing car engines … the annual 24-hour Citroen 2CV race gets underway at Snetterton in England.
These cars are seriously unsuitable for racing and have been compared to garden sheds.  Â
But enthusiasts love them – and racing the old Citroens takes a great amount of skill.Â
Especially when the competition heats up.
Car restorer Paul Robertson says the greatest skill needed to drive these cars is maintaining speed around corners …Â Details
In the hermetic bubble of a racetrack — where economic reality has no pit pass — the Lexus LFA makes perfect, glorious sense.
As I rocket around New Jersey Motorsports Park, this supercar physically compels me to switch off skepticism, pay heed to the racing line and happily marinate in waves of sensory stimulation: the Formula One shriek of its 552-horsepower V-10, the tightrope balance and technical precision that makes even a Corvette ZR-1 feel like a Tinkertoy.
Hurry, ask me while I’m still in the driver’s seat: is the LFA worth $375,000? Sure, for the rare person who would prefer a supercar from Japan, not Europe … Details